Device for fastening identification members

ABSTRACT

In a device for fastening identification members, such as plates, to a hard receiving material by means of bolts, a bolt setting gun is mounted on a support frame for movement between a firing position where its muzzle is spaced from the receiving material and a fired position where the muzzle is located adjacent the receiving material. Supported from the gun is a storage element in which a plurality of identification members are held ready to be moved, one at a time, from an open end of the storage element to a location in front of the muzzle in the firing position. An angle lever pivotally attached to the storage element and moves the identification members from the storage element into position in front of the muzzle. The angle lever is spring biased into position for withdrawing an identification member from the storage element. The gun has a noze adjacent its muzzle and as the muzzle returns from the fired position to the firing position, the nose contacts the angle lever and pivots it, against the spring biasing action, so that an identification member is moved in front of the muzzle. When the gun is fired, the nose moves toward the receiving material and releases the angle lever. In its released condition, the angle lever, due to the spring biasing action, moves into position to pick up another identification member. Accordingly, during each firing cycle, as one identification member is fastened to the hard receiving material, another identification member is automatically moved in position in front of the muzzle of the gun.

.[22] Filed:

UnitedStates Patent v Maier DEVICE FOR FASTENING IDENTIFICATION MEMBERS Elmar Maier, Feldkirch-Tisis, Austria v 73 Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Jan. 15, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 323,816

[75] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl..; 29/211 D [51] Int. Cl. B23q 7/10 [58] Field of Search 29/211 R, 211 D, 200 B,

-[ 56] References Cited v UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,579,792 5/1971 Craver 29/208 C 3,584,363. 6/l97l McGowan 29/211 R 3,592,248 7/1971 Cameron n l44/32 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm Toren, McGeady and Stanger [57] I ABSTRACT In a device for fastening identification members, suchas'plates, to a hard receiving material by means of bolts, a bolt setting gun is'tnounted on a support frame 7 July 30, 1974 for movement between a firing position where its muzzle is spaced from the receiving material and a fired position where the muzzle is located adjacent the receiving material. Supported from the gun is a storage element in which a plurality of identification members are held ready to be moved, one at a time, from an open end of the storage element to a location in front of the muzzle in the firing position. An angle lever pivotally attached to the storage element and moves the identification members from the storage element into position in front of the muzzle. The angle lever is spring biased into position for withdrawing an identification member from the-storage element. The gun has.

a noze adjacent its muzzle and as the muzzle returns from the fired position to the firing position, the nose contacts the angle lever and pivots it, against the spring biasing action, so that an identification member is moved in frontof the muzzle. When the gun isfired, the nose moves toward the receiving material and releases the angle lever. In its released condition, the angle lever, due-to the spring biasing action, moves into position to pick up another identification member. Accordingly, during each firing cycle, as one identification member is fastened to the hard receiving material, another identification member is automatically moved in position in front of the .muzzle of the gun.

16 Claims, '11 Drawing Figures uff 29 WID 29 il I m 11. 22

I f" l5 s i PAIENTEUJULBOISH SHEET 1 [IF 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a device for attaching identification members 'to a hard receiving material by means of bolts and, more particularly, it is directed to an arrangement for feeding individual carrier members into position in front of the muzzle of a bolt setting gun during each firing cycle of the gun.

In steel mills it is necessary to identify hot or glowing semifinished products, such as blooms, ingots, billets and the like. In applying the identification, a considerable amount of data must be provided, for example, an identifying number and the composition, charge and weight of the material.

With the progress of automation in steel mills, the output of the products which require identification has increased very considerably. As a result, it has been necessary to provide identification methods which can stay abreast of the increasing production rates.

Various conventional identification methods are used, such as writing with chalk or other materials, applying the identification with stamp dies, welding on identification members, as well as attaching the identification members with bolts driven in by bolt setting guns.

With the exception of bolt setting guns, the other methods of applying identification have considerable drawbacks. Apart from the temperature-related difficulty of applying identificationon a glowing part, the use of chalk or paint has the great disadvantage that the marking applied is smeared during the transportation of the marked object and becomes illegible.

During the cooling of the marked objects, as is well known, a mill scale is formed on the surface layer of the object and, subsequently, the scale falls off in the form of flakes. As a result, the identification applied either directly or indirectly on the glowing surface by means of chalk, paint, stamping or welding, disappears at least in part after the object has cooled, as the mill scale flakes off, so that satisfactory identification is not insured. For the durability and legibility of the identification member, the most suitable method is the one where the identification member is secured to the object or receiving material by a bolt.

stationary relative to the object to be identified. The

movement of the gun from the rest position into the operating position can be effected by pneumatic, hydrauli'c'or other means.

To afford at least partial remote control of such a marking device, electro-mechanical firing of the cartridge for driving the bolt has been used. Accordingly, the cumbersome manual introduction of the cartridge and bolt has been eliminated in known devices by feeding both the cartridge and bolt automatically to the gun from a magazine before the commencement of the fastening operation.

In such devices, however, an important detail remains unsolved and that is the automatic feeding of the identification member in front of the muzzle of the gun in position to be attached to the receiving material by a bolt. This is the essential disadvantage of the presently known method. I

Manual feeding of the identification member in front of the muzzle is particularly difficult and, as a result, both time consuming and costly, because the muzzle is very hot due to its intermittent contact with the glowing receiving material.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a bolt device incorporating a bolt setting difficulties are overcome by means of a storage element and feeding member incorporated with the bolt setting gun for withdrawing an identification member from the storage element and positioning it in front of the muzzle during each firing cycle of the gun, that is, as the previously positioned identification member is fastened to the surface of the hard receiving material.

Further, it is also possible to arrange the storage element on a supporting frame for the gun and to. insert the identification member in front of the muzzle while the gun isin the rest position instead of carrying out the operation during the firing cycle.

With this arrangement, the application of the identification member or marking can be carried out fully automatically with a resulting savings in time.

Tobe able to attach the identification member any place on the entire surface of the receiving material facing the muzzle, preferably, the gun is mounted on a supporting frame for movement in a coordinate system.

Preferably, the feeding member is a pivotally mounted spring biased angle lever which is positioned in accordance with the movement of the muzzle of the gun relative to the receiving material onto which the identification member is applied. The angle lever design has the principle advantage in that the identification members can be arranged in a particularly space-saving manner in a storage element since the angle lever directly withdraws the identification member from an open end in the storage'element and, by its pivotal movement, swings the member into position in front of the muzzle. Accordingly, the angle lever can be constructed in accordance with the particular conditions involved.

Additionally, the identification members can be fed in front of the muzzle by the use of slides, cams and the like. 1

To permit the pivotal movement of the feeding member inrelationship to the relative positions of the muzzle and the surface of the receiving material to which the identification member is applied, the placement and the movement of the feeding member is determined by a control element which is movable relative to the gun, preferably, axially displaceable with regard to the gun. The guidance of the control element is provided, for example, by a shaped track which has a very long bearing surface for avoiding canting of the control element during movement back and forth of the element.

It is also possible to connect the control element rigidly with the gun, and this arrangement is particularly advantageous when a slide is used as the feeding element.

Preferably, the control element is designed as a carriage and the feeder element is an angle lever pivotally mounted on the carriage. Particularly suitable for the carriage is a C-shaped track with an axle extending transversely between the sides of the track for mounting the angle lever.

The angle lever is advantageously formed of a pair of angularly disposed arms intersecting at a point which forms the fulcrum of the lever. One of the arms of the lever, preferably its shorter one, is positioned for engagement with the gun while the other arm serves to move the identification member from the storage element into position in front of the muzzle.

In this arrangement, it is particularly advantageous that the turning radius of the arm which carries the identification member can be selected so that, as the member is pivoted into position in front of the muzzle, one of its edges is held against the following identification member within the storage element.

In accordance with the present invention, there is the additional advantage that the relatively time consuming movements of the gun toward and away from the receiving material, are utilized in moving individual identification members from the storage element into position in front of the gun muzzle.

In the operation of fastening the identification member to the hard receiving material the gun, or at least its muzzle, is movable between a firing position, where the muzzle is spaced axially from the surface of the receiving material, and a fired position where the muzzle is positioned adjacent the surface of the receiving material. When the muzzle is in the firing position, the feeding arm of the angle lever is positioned in front of the muzzle and the carriage extends forwardly of the muzzle. This relative position of the gun and the carriage is obtained preferably by a spring action between the two. On the other hand, when the muzzle of the gun advances forwardly of the front end of the carriage, the feeding arm is moved by a spring biasing action into position to pick up the next identification member. As the muzzle of the gun moves forwardly toward the receiving material the holding action on the angle lever is released so that during a firing cycle the angle lever can pivot and pick up the next identification member and then move it into position in front of the muzzle after the muzzle has returned from the first position into the firing position. The distance between-the receiving material and the supporting device for the gun varies from case to case. These differences in distance are compensated by the bolt setting gun, since it is displaceably mounted on the supporting device or structure. The carriage is axially displaceable relative to the gun and is biased by means of a spring in the direction opposite to the firing direction.

Preferably, stops are provided on the gun and the carriage to limit relative movement between the two and a stop for limiting the positionof the carriage relative to the gun is provided on the supporting frame. The stops which limit the relative positions between the gun and the carriage act only when the gun has reached the position in which its muzzle extends forwardly, in the firing direction, beyond the end of the carriage. Furthermore, these stops insure that the gun and the carriage do not become displaced from mutual engage ment.

Another characteristic feature of the carriage is that it forms a storage container or chamber for the identification members, preferably, the carriage is arranged to receive an identification member cassette. At its forward end, that is the end closer to the receiving material, the carriage is open for withdrawing identification members and, similarly, the-opposite end of the carriage is open for the replacement of the identification member cassette.

The carriage is shaped to provide guides through which the cassette can be directed as the identification members are moved into position for removal from the carriage by the feeding member.

It is advantageous if the cassette is movable within the carriagein the firing direction of the device up to a stop which is preferably located on the carriage. It is important that the identification member cassette is guided in the proper direction to assure that the identification members are properly removed from the carriage by the feeding element. The specific location of the stop relative to the cassette is unimportant as long as it affords the proper limiting action. The stopping action can be provided, for example, by locks, projections and the like or for simplicitys sake the carriage can be closed at its end facing in the firing direction so that the identification member cassette'is halted at that point. However, the end of the carriage would have to be arranged to permit the withdrawal of the identification members for movement into position in front of the muzzle.

Preferably, known detachable holding members, such as notches, magnets and the like, are provided to prevent the cassette from dropping out of the carriage in the direction opposite to the feeding direction.

The identification member cassette or insert can be at least partially withdrawn from the carriage for adding identification members into the carriage. Further,

, the cassette or insert can be removed from the carriage for adding identification members or it can be constructed so that it need not be completely removed when additional identification members are introduced into the carriage.

Within the carriage, the identification members'are arranged in a stacked or overlapping relationship and a spring member is associated with the cassette or insert for directing the identification members toward the forward end of the carriage, that is the end closer to the receiving material. The forward end portion of the carriage facing toward the muzzle is open so that the feeding element can lift the identification members for placement in front of the muzzle.

Particularly suitable for use as the spring in moving the identification members through the carriage is an elongated band-like spring which coils at one end so that the spring rolls up upon itself and pulls a member, such as a feed block, which, in turn, directs the identification members toward the forward end of the carriage.

As the feeding element or angle lever moves an identification member into position in front of the muzzle, the next identification member is located in the removal position within the carriage. The removal position is provided when the identification member rests at one end against the forward end of the storage chamber provided within the carriage. For refilling identification members into the chamber in the carriage, the feed spring and other members can be removed from the chamber.

To permit the identification member cassettes or holders, filled with the identification members, into any position without the members dropping out of the cassette, and to assure the proper passage of the identification members through the cassette, despite the great vibrations which occur in the steel mills, a special holding arrangement is provided in the cassette. For example, holding means, such as leaf springs, magnets and the like, are positioned within the cassette at the locations where the cassette is open, such as for the removal of the members so that the identification members have only a limited space.

The satisfactory movement of the identification members from the chamber within the carriage to the muzzle depends on the location at which the feeding member engages the identification member. Preferably, two symmetrically arranged angle levers are used each with a gripping means for engaging the identification member in position in front of the muzzle in the firing position.

To grip an identification member, each of the angle levers is provided with an elastic gripping means, preferably arranged on the longer arm of the angle lever, and consisting of snap springs or spring loaded jaws which grip the identification member in oppositely disposed edge regions for holding it as it moves into position in front of the muzzle.

The holding range of the gripping means can be adapted by a stop to the dimensions of the particular identification member used. If an eccentric stop is used, for example, the range of the gripping action can be adjusted to identification members having different dimensions.

It is important that the gripping means of the angle levers hold the identification member at two oppositely disposed points and feed the member simultaneously. Accordingly, the angle levers must be operatively connected together. Such an operative connection can be provided by a tongue which extends between and is connected to both of the angle levers or by rigidly mounting both of the levers on the same axle.

To hold an identification member in position after it has been placed in front of the muzzle, holding elements, such as magnets, are arranged at the muzzle. Compared to mechanical holding elements, magnets have the advantage that they are, to a considerable degree, insensitive to dirt and are not susceptible to mechanical difficulties.

To effect the rotation of the angle lever against the spring action which biases it into position to pick up an identification member from the storage element, a nose-like projection is provided on the gun adjacent its muzzle so that the projection moves toward the receiving material when the gun is fired. As the gun returns from the fired position, the nose-like projection engages the angle lever and causes it to pivot and move the identification member picked up from the storage element into position in front of the gun muzzle. The projection holds the angle lever in position in front of the muzzle until the gun is fired. When the gun is fired the projection travels forwardly toward the receiving material and releases the angle lever which is again pivoted downwardly for picking up another identification member from the storage element. The magnets located at the muzzle end of the gun hold the identification member in position in front of the muzzle so that the holding action of the angle lever is released and the member is properly oriented as it is carried forwardly for attachment to the receiving material.

- engagement with each other, are rounded.

The biasing action which directs the feeding element or angle lever into position for removing an identifi-' cation member from the storage element, can be a tension spring extending between one arm of the lever and the carriage or a torsion spring. I

If a slide is used as the feeding element instead of the angle lever, the slide can be rigidly connected with the gun, for example, over a control element provided with a skid, as mentioned above, and it can be operated directly or indirectly.

Various forms of identification members can be used,

depending onthe design of the gun. The only basic requirement for the identification member is that it must have a straight edge if it is used in guns with a pivotally mounted feeding element in order to insure a positive removal position from the storage element. Tests have shown that it is preferable if the identification member is formed as a substantially planar, rectangular plate which has, adjacent one edge, a projection or nose, which serves as a fulcrum for the pivoting action and as a spacer for storing the'members within the storage element. With a similar projection formed in each of the identification members, the members can be fed into position in front of the muzzle supported against the nose-like projection on the next identification member within the storage element. The location of the nose-like projection also assists in the holding action afforded by the gripping means on the angle levers so' that the identification member is held securely as it is rotated upwardly out of the storage element into position in front of the gun muzzle.

Another consideration in the constructional design of the identification carrier is that it has the necessary rigidity for storability. lts rigidity requirement can be met in various ways, that is by providing a corresponding thickness, by corrugating the member or by the selection of a specific material.

Since the receiving material to be identified must be marked when it is red or glowing hot, metal is particularly suitable as the material for-the identification members. The identifying indicia can be applied to the members in various ways. Accordingly, the identifying information can be placed on the members in coded form, for example, by using different colors, shapes and the like and/or punching or stamping identifying characters in the member. When identifying characters are used, they are preferablyformed in relief and stand out from the surface ofthe identification member. To assure that the identification members can be properly stored or stacked in the storage element and can be moved to the removal position, sliding means, such as skids, knobs and the like, can be provided on the identification members.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING ber used in the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a feeding element illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the detail portion of a identified as VI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, however, with the device disposed in the fired position;

FIG. 8 is a partialview of the device as shownin FIGS. 2 and 7, however, with a portion of the device in a partly withdrawn position;

FIG. 9is a view taken in the direction of the arrow IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown-in FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIG. 11 is another portion of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 into which-the part shown in FIG. 10 fits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG, 1 a device I is shown for applying identification markings to a bloom 4. The marking device is mounted on a holder 2 which, in turn. is movably secured on asupport frame 3 so that the device can be moved in the direction of the arrows A and B. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 the marking device 1 includes a bolt setting gun 5, a feeding element 6 12 and forms a support surface on which a plurality of identification members 14 are stacked with the forwardmost member having its forward edge contacting the end 15 of the cassette 8. The cassette 8 is displaceably mounted in the carriage 7. The cassette 8, shown separated from the carriage 7 in FIG. 11, is displaceable forwardly within the carriage 7 up to a stop block 17 which is secured on the carriage .7 by means of a screw 16. Further, the cassette is locked in position within the carriage 7 by means of a locking spring 19 securedby around head screw 18. As can be seen in 'FIG. 11 the rearward end of the cassette 8 is open and,

in addition, the forward end facing in the firing direction is also open so that identification members can be removed from within the cassette for placement in front of the gun 5. In FIG. 2 the identification member positioned in front of the gun 5 is identified-by the ref-.

erence character 14a. To assure that the following identification members 14 remain in the proper orientation within the cassette as the forwardmost one is withdrawn for placement in front of the gun 5, a magnet 21 is positioned on the carriage 7 and affords a permanent attraction for the members against the removal direction in the range of the end 15 ofthe cassette 8.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the end 22 of the carriage 7 extending forwardly in the-firing direction from the end 15-of the cassette is shaped to protect the cassette and the magnet 21 against mechanical and thermal damage.

The feeding element 6 consists of an angle lever 23 pivotally mounted on an axle 24 which is supported in. the carriage- 7.-The angle Iever23 .has a shorter arm 25 and a longer arm 28 which are disposed angularly to one another and intersect or are connected at the point of pivotal attachment of the angle lever to the axle 24. Spring 26 is connected at one end to the end of the shorter arm 25 spaced from the axle 24 and at'its other end to the carriage 7 at a position near its forward end and spaced forwardly from the location of the axle 24. The spring 26 has the effect'of pivoting the angle lever 23 so that its shorter arm. 25 moves in the clockwise diward end of the gun has been displaced forwardly against the receiving surface of the bloom 4 with a bolt driven from the gun for attaching the identification member to the bloom 4.

In the firing position, as shown in FIG. 2, the bolt setting gun 5 and the carriage 7. connected to it are dependently supported from the support frame 3. A tension spring 9, attached at one end to the gun 5 and at its other end to the carriage 7 is in a taut extended position.

Locatedwithin the cassette 8 is a slide 1 1, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in a perspective view in FIG.

10, andv a band spring 12 is secured at one endto the slide and its other end is wound in a coil fashion and is rection as viewed in FIG. 2. However, a nose-like projection 27'secured to the forward end of the bolt setting gun 5 projects downwardly into the path of the shorter arm 25 and prevents it from rotating when the gun is in the firing position as illustrated by FIG. 2. Accordingly, the other or longer arm 28 of the angle lever 23 is held in front of the muzzle 29 of the gun. The longer or feeding arm 28holds the identification member 14a in the firing position. Though only a single angle lever 23 is shown, a second symmetrically arranged angle lever is spaced laterally from the one shown in FIG. 2 and' performs the same movements in securing the identification member in the firing position. The second angle lever, identical with angle lever 23 is con nected to the feeding arm 28 by means of a transversely extending tongue 31 which is secured to the feeding arm by a set screw 32. As can be seen in FIG. 2, and

as is shown in detail in FIG. 5, a gripper 33, secured to hold the identification member l4ain the firing position.

In FIG. 3, the manner in which the bolt setting gun 5, the carriage 7, the cassette 8, and the slide 11 are connected to one another, is shown. n

The carriage 7, as indicated in FIG. 3, is substantially .C-shaped and is displaceably engaged within grooves 35 in the gun 5. The carriage is displaceably engageable in the firing direction of the gun. The cassette 8 is inserted within the carriage and within thecassette the slide 11 is slidably mounted on struts 36, note FIG. 11. The slide 11, as described earlier, provides a support for the identification members within the cassette and,

in combination with the spring 12, biases the stacked identification members 14 toward the forward open end of the cassette 8. The slide 11, as indicated in FIG. 10, has a web 37 extending downwardly, giving the end of the slide facing in the firing direction a T-shaped appearance, with the spring 12 attached to the underside of the web 37. Near the rearward end of the slide 11 a handle 38 extends downwardly from the web 37 and canYbe used to manually retract the slide along the struts 36 into a position at the rearward end of the cassette for inserting additional identification members into the cassette. As mentioned above, a rectangular projection I3 extends upwardly from the slide and seats within a similarly shaped groove 39 formed in the upper surface of the cassette for properly guiding the movement of the identification member" through the cassette toward its forward end. As can be seen best in FIG. 6, the rearward ends of the identification members vl4, that is the ends facing away from the firing direction, each has a projection 41 spaced closely from its rearward end 49 and extending upwardly as indicated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 6 the identification member 14a inv the firing position is shown rotated upwardly from its prior position resting in a stacked arrangement.

on the identification member 14 below it. When the identification member is pivoted by the feeding arm 28 of the angle lever 23 into the firing position, the projection 41 on the next following'identification member acts as a fulcrum around which the identification member 14a is pivoted. In FIG. 4 a perspective view of an identification member 14 is shown indicating the location of the projection 41 adjacent one end 49 of the member. Additionally, the identification members 14 are provided with identification indicia 42.

In FIG. the gripper 33 is shown positioned on the outer end of the feeder arm 28 spaced from its point of pivotal connection to the carriage 7. Further, in FIG. 5 the identification member 14a in the firing position is indicated. As the angle lever is pivoted by the spring 26 when it is released by the nose-like projection 27 the bevel 43 on the side of the gripper 33 rides downwardly over the edge of the identification member 14 located in the removal position within the cassette 8, that is the identification member located at the forwardmost posi-.

tion within the cassette. As indicated in FIG. 5 the bevel 43 is formed on the edge of jaw 45 which is se cured by a flat spring 48 to the feeding arm 28 so that it can pivot in the direction of the arrows C, D. Further,

the identification member is secured within the recess 46 in the jaw 45. Theconfiguration of the recess 46 and the spring action provided by spring 48 holds the identification member 14a as it is pivoted upwardly into the firing position shown in FIG. 2.

- As partially indicated in FIG. 5, the tongue 31 interconnects the upper ends of the feeding arms 28 so that each of the feeding arms grips an opposite edge of the identification member 14a as it is pivoted upwardly.

In FIG. 6 three identification members are shown, two of the members are in the storage position within the cassette 8 and the third has been pivoted into the firing position, that is the position of the identification member 14a as shown in FIG. 2. However, in the position shown in F IG. 2 the lower end of the identification member 14a has its lower end seated against the projection 41 on the next following identification member.

In the storage position, the identification members are arranged with their flat sides in contact with one another and with the rearward edges 49in contact with the upwardly extending projection 41 on the next rearward identification member. When the forwardmost identification member within the, cassette 8 is gripped by the jaws 45 of the feeding arms 28 its rearward edge 49a then becomes its bottom edge as it pivots upwardly with its bottom edge 49a acting as a fulcrum bearing against the upwardly extending projection 41 on the next following identification member 14. i

In FIG. 7 the gun 5 has been fired and has been displaced toward the bloom 4 with the identification member l4a carried by the magnets 34. The extent to which the gun travels forwardly depends on the dis-' tance of the bloom 4 spaced from the muzzle of the gun in the firing direction. A stop 51 on the gun contacts the stop 52 on the carriage and the carriage is displaced toward the bloom by .the amount E, that is it is moved away from the supporting frame by that amount.

In the firing position shown in FIG. 2-the nose-like projection 27 holds the lever arm 23 frombeing rotated by the spring 26, however, as the gun 5 moves in the direction of the bloom 4, the nose-like projection is disengaged from the arm 25 so that the angle lever is pivoted by the spring. As the angle lever pivots, a pin 53 positioned on the carriage 7 serves as a stop. When the gun is fired and moves from the firing position of FIG. 2 to the fired position of FIG. 7, the identification member 14a is released by the grippers since the holding force of the magnets is greater than that supplied by the grippers 33. Further, as the identification member 14a moves toward the fired position, the angle lever 23 commences its pivotal movement and the grippers move over the edge of andhold the next identification member to be moved into the firing position.

After the gun has completed the fastening of the identification member 14a to the bloom 4, it returns toward the firing position and, since the upper end of the shorter arm 25 is in the path of the nose-like projection 27 the movement of the gun back to its firing position causes the projection 27 to contact the arm 25 and cause the angle lever to pivot in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 7 until the identification member 14a now gripped by the feeding arms 28 moves into the firing position of FIG. 2..

In FIG. 8, the cassette has been withdrawn rearwardly, that is in the direction opposite to the firing direction, by manually pulling on the handle .38 so that the action of locking spring 19 is released. In this rearward position additional identification members 14 can be loaded onto the slide for refilling the cassette 8.

' As can be seen in FIG. 9, the slide has been moved through the cassette 8 until its web 37 is seated within the recess 54, note FIG. 11, adjacent the rearward end of the cassette. To enable the slide 11 to be locked in this position during loading operations, despite the force exerted on it by the spring 12, the recess is pro vided at its forward end with projections 55 against which the slide 11 seats. Further, alongside and adjacent the rearward end of the recess a slot-like opening 56 is provided into which the locking spring 19 seats. With the spring 19 engaged in the opening 56 the cassette 8 is secured in its delivering position, e.g., in the pushed-in position. i

While a specific embodiment of'the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for fastening identification members to a hard receiving material, such as the surface of a glowing bloom in a steel mill, including a support structure, a bolt setting gun displaceably mounted on said support structure, said gun having a muzzle which is displaceable between a firing position with an identification member in front of it to a fired position in which the identification member is attached to the hard receiving material, and means for positioning an identification member in front of said muzzle in the firing position, wherein the improvement comprises a storage element attached to said gun and arranged to hold a plurality of the identification members, and said means for positioning the identification members includes a movably displaceable feeding member attached to said storage element for moving individual identification members from said storage element to the firing position in front of the muzzle of said bolt setting gun.

2. A device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feeding member comprises at least one pivotally mounted angle lever located in the path of said muzzle of said gun so that as said muzzle returns to the firing position said gun pivots said angle lever for positioning an identification member in front of said muzzle.

3. A device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein spring means are connected to said angle lever and to said storage element for biasing said angle lever out of the position for locating an identification member in the firing position so that said gun in pivoting said angle lever into the firing position overcomes the biasing action of said spring means.

4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said storage element comprises a carriage in displaceable engagement with said gun and said carriage is movable relative to said gun in the firing direction of said gun.

5. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage.

6. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage, said angle lever comprises a first arm and a second arm extending angularly from one end of said first arm, said angle lever is pivotally connected to said carriage at the intersection ofsaid first and second arms with said first arm arranged to extend into the path of said gun as it returns to the firing position from the fired position and said second arm serving to carry the identification member from said storage element to the firing position of said muzzle.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said spring means comprises a spring connected at one end to said first arm at a position spaced from its intersection with said second arm and connected at its other end to said carriage at a position spaced from the location at which said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage in the direction of movement of said muzzle from the firing position to the fired position.

8. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a first stop issecured to said gun and a second stop is secured to said carriage for limiting the relative movement between said gun and said carriage.

9. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said carriage comprises walls forming an elongated chamber extending in the direction of movement of said muzzle from its firing position to its fired position, a carrier positioned within the chamber in said carriage for holding the identification members and for supplying individual ones of the identification members to said angle lever.

10. A device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said carrier is movably positioned within said chamber in said carriage in the elongated direction of said chamber and said carriage having a stop formed therein for limiting the movement of said carrier.

11. A device, as set forth'in claim .10, wherein said chamber in said carriage is open at the end thereof extending transversely of the elongated direction of said chamber and located closer to the first position of said muzzle, a slide positioned within said carrier, a spring attached to said carrier and positioned forwardly in the firing direction from said slide and attached to said slide for biasing it in the firing direction of said muzzle so that identification members supported on said slide are moved one at a time to the open end of said chamber.

12. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said slide having a support surface for the identification members disposed obliquely of the direction of movement of said slide toward the open end of said chamber for maintaining the identification members in a sloping orientation as each of them is moved into position to be picked up by said feeding member.

13. A device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said feeding element comprises a pair of laterally spaced symmetrically arranged said angle levers each arranged to grip an oppositely disposed side of an identification member as it is moved from the open end of said chamber to the firing position of said muzzle, each said angle lever including elastic gripping means for holding an oppositely disposed side of an identification member.

14. A device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein magnets are positioned on said gun adjacent said muzzle for holding an identification member in the firing position after it has been moved into that position by said angle lever and for continuing to hold the identification member as it is moved to the firing position during which movement it is withdrawn from the elastic gripping means.

15. A device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said gun having a nose-like projection thereon adjacent its muzzle end and said nose-like projection is displaceable with said muzzle between the firing position and the angle lever so that its second arm is positioned for picking up an identification member.

16. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein a plurality of identification members are positioned insaid chamber supported on said carrier, each said identification member comprises a planar plate having a pair of first edges arranged to be secured by said second arms of said angle lever when said identification member is moved from said chamber to the firing position in front of said muzzle and a second edge extending transversely of the first edges, a projection formed in said plate adjacent said second edge and facing outwardly away from said slide supporting said identification members, said plate positioned on said slide so that the one of said plates located at the open end of said chamber to be moved by said angle lever is pivoted by said angle lever from its position supported in a stacked arrangement on said slide with its second edge contacting said projection on the adjacent said identification member supported on said slide for providing support for said second edge as it'acts as a,fulcrum about which the identification member is pivoted into position infrontof the muzzle in the firing position. 

1. A device for fastening identification members to a hard receiving material, such as the surface of a glowing bloom in a steel mill, including a support structure, a bolt setting gun displaceably mounted on said support structure, said gun having a muzzle which is displaceable between a firing position with an identification member in front of it to a fired position in which the identification member is attached to the hard receiving material, and means for positioning an identification member in front of said muzzle in the firing position, wherein the improvement comprises a storage element attached to said gun and arranged to hold a plurality of the identification members, and said means for positioning the identification members includes a movably displaceable feeding member attached to said storage element for moving individual identification members from said storage element to the firing position in front of the muzzle of said bolt setting gun.
 2. A device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feeding member comprises at least one pivotally mounted angle lever located in the path of said muzzle of said gun so that as said muzzle returns to the firing position said gun pivots said angle lever for positioning an identification member in front of said muzzle.
 3. A device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein spring means are connected to said angle lever and to said storage element for biasing said angle lever out of the position for locating an identification member in the firing position so that said gun in pivoting said angle lever into the firing position overcomes the biasing action of said spring means.
 4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said storage element comprises a carriage in displaceable engagement with said gun and said carriage is movable relative to said gun in the firing direction of said gun.
 5. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage.
 6. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage, said angle lever comprises a first arm and a second arm extending angularly from one end of said first arm, said angle lever is pivotally connected to said carriage at the intersection of said first and second arms with said first arm arranged to extend into the path of said gun as it returns to the firing position from the fired position and said second arm serving to carry the identification member from said storage element to the firing position of said muzzle.
 7. A device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said spring means comprises a spring connected at one end to said first arm at a position spaced from its inTersection with said second arm and connected at its other end to said carriage at a position spaced from the location at which said angle lever is pivotally mounted on said carriage in the direction of movement of said muzzle from the firing position to the fired position.
 8. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a first stop is secured to said gun and a second stop is secured to said carriage for limiting the relative movement between said gun and said carriage.
 9. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said carriage comprises walls forming an elongated chamber extending in the direction of movement of said muzzle from its firing position to its fired position, a carrier positioned within the chamber in said carriage for holding the identification members and for supplying individual ones of the identification members to said angle lever.
 10. A device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said carrier is movably positioned within said chamber in said carriage in the elongated direction of said chamber and said carriage having a stop formed therein for limiting the movement of said carrier.
 11. A device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said chamber in said carriage is open at the end thereof extending transversely of the elongated direction of said chamber and located closer to the first position of said muzzle, a slide positioned within said carrier, a spring attached to said carrier and positioned forwardly in the firing direction from said slide and attached to said slide for biasing it in the firing direction of said muzzle so that identification members supported on said slide are moved one at a time to the open end of said chamber.
 12. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said slide having a support surface for the identification members disposed obliquely of the direction of movement of said slide toward the open end of said chamber for maintaining the identification members in a sloping orientation as each of them is moved into position to be picked up by said feeding member.
 13. A device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said feeding element comprises a pair of laterally spaced symmetrically arranged said angle levers each arranged to grip an oppositely disposed side of an identification member as it is moved from the open end of said chamber to the firing position of said muzzle, each said angle lever including elastic gripping means for holding an oppositely disposed side of an identification member.
 14. A device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein magnets are positioned on said gun adjacent said muzzle for holding an identification member in the firing position after it has been moved into that position by said angle lever and for continuing to hold the identification member as it is moved to the firing position during which movement it is withdrawn from the elastic gripping means.
 15. A device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said gun having a nose-like projection thereon adjacent its muzzle end and said nose-like projection is displaceable with said muzzle between the firing position and the fired position so that in the firing position of said muzzle said nose-like projection engages said first arm of said angle lever and holds it against the biasing action of said spring connected to said first arm and as said muzzle is moved from the firing position toward the fired position said nose-like projection releases said first arm and said spring connected to it pivots said angle lever so that its second arm is positioned for picking up an identification member.
 16. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein a plurality of identification members are positioned in said chamber supported on said carrier, each said identification member comprises a planar plate having a pair of first edges arranged to be secured by said second arms of said angle lever when said identification member is moved from said chamber to the firing position in front of said muzzle and a second edge extending transversely of the first edges, a projectiOn formed in said plate adjacent said second edge and facing outwardly away from said slide supporting said identification members, said plate positioned on said slide so that the one of said plates located at the open end of said chamber to be moved by said angle lever is pivoted by said angle lever from its position supported in a stacked arrangement on said slide with its second edge contacting said projection on the adjacent said identification member supported on said slide for providing support for said second edge as it acts as a fulcrum about which the identification member is pivoted into position in front of the muzzle in the firing position. 